Strategic cooperation for the right to repair: buying groups send a clear signal

Strategic cooperation for the right to repair: buying groups send a clear signal

03/02/2026

ElectronicPartner, EURONICS, expert and Wertgarantie sign position paper as a basis for sustainable cooperation in the retail sector

The implementation of the EU Directive on the Right to Repair (RtR) by 31 July 2026 presents retail and service businesses with new challenges as well as opportunities. With a joint position paper, the well-established buying groups ElectronicPartner, EURONICS and expert, together with specialist insurer Wertgarantie, are now creating a foundation to promote dialogue and strategic cooperation in the field of the "Right to Repair".

"Through this collaboration, we are providing affiliated retail and service businesses with support and the opportunity to play an active role in shaping and implementing the Right to Repair in a practical way. This open approach enables us to pool expertise, integrate existing service solutions and jointly develop sustainable and innovative concepts," explains Patrick Döring, Chief Executive Officer of Wertgarantie, outlining the basis of the cooperation.

Commenting on the reasons behind the partnership, Matthias Assmann, Member of the Management Board of ElectronicPartner Handel SE, states: "The challenges posed by the new legal requirements are diverse. Only by working together can we use resources efficiently, provide targeted support to specialist retailers and service providers in implementation, and promote the sustainable use of devices for consumers nationwide."

Brendan Lenane, Member of the Management Board of EURONICS Deutschland eG, highlights another objective of the collaboration: "Our clear aim is to strengthen local value chains, conserve resources and advance climate protection as well as the circular economy. At the same time, we want to be recognised as reliable points of contact for consumers on all matters relating to the Right to Repair."

Christoph Komor, Member of the Management Board for Retail at expert SE, summarises the core of the position paper as follows: "The Right to Repair is a strategic cross-cutting issue affecting environmental, economic, consumer, digital and social policy alike. For the electrical retail sector, it is not only about regulatory requirements, but about how repairs can be implemented in a way that is economically viable and organisationally reliable in the long term. With this position paper, we are establishing a shared basis to define clear, practical framework conditions, represent the interests of specialist retailers collectively and strengthen our locations sustainably as competent repair hubs."

As part of the strategic cooperation, several concrete measures have been agreed. These include seeking an agreement with industry partners to enable extended warranty periods for repairs within the first 24 months, implementing structured data management and targeted data exchange in service operations, and expanding training initiatives and information campaigns for retail staff as well as consumers.

With this position paper, the retail groups are sending a clear signal for a sustainable transformation in the retail sector and for the protection of consumer interests.